Toy vehicle



Sept. a D. A. OVERMAN TOY VEHI CLE Filed March 14, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept 23 1924.

D. A. OVERMAN TOY VEHICLE Fil ed March 14 1923 2 Sheats-$heot 2 fiAl Puzrman.

Patented Sept. 23, 1924.

PATENT OFFICE.

DON A. OVERMAN, OF OMAHA, NEBRASKA.

TOY VEHICLE.

Application filed March 14, 1923.

To all whom it may condom:

Be it known that I, DON A. OVERMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Omaha, in the county of Douglas and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Toy Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to toy vehicles, and more particularly to that type known as pedal wagons.

.An object of the invention is to provide a vehicle of this character by use of which a child may obtain healthful exercise and at the same time be amused and permitted to rest the feet at intervals, such as when coasting, without losing the position of the feet on the pedals.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hand controlled lever which may be operated to release the driving mechanism from the rear wheels for the purpose of coasting and resting the feet, and which may also be actuated for applying a brake and checking the speed of travel of the vehicle. This object eliminates all possibility of the child losing control of the pedal wagon when going down grade, and when the speed increases to such an extent that the child cannot retain his feet upon the pedals or is not able to exercise sufficient pressure to check the motion of the vehicle.

A further object of the invention is to provide a toy vehicle possessing the above characteristics and which comprises but relatively few parts to get out of order, and which requires no skill in the control and manipulation of the device. 7

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention will be more fully described hereinafter, and will be more particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto.

In the drawings, wherein like symbols refer to like or corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the frame of a toy pedal wagon constructed according to this invention. I

Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical section through the same. a

Figure 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of the drive mechanism showing the axle released and parts in position to coast freely.

Serial No. 624,954.

Figure 4 is a similar view with the parts further advanced into a braking position.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary side elevation of the brake shoe and drum in assembled posltion.

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the hand lever and locking means therefor for releasing the axle and applying the brake, and

Figure 7 is an enlarged transversed section taken through the rear end of the vehicle frame showing the rear axle and parts connected thereto.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1O designates the body of a toy vehicle which, as indicated in Figure 2, may simulate a roadster or racing automobile body which may have a rear compartment to which access may be gained through a cover 11. A spare wheel 12 may also be provided for carrying out this simulation. The body is mounted on a frame composed of side bars 13 and 14 joined intermediate their lengths by cross braces 15 and 16 and a rear cross brace 17. The frame has front wheels 18 provided with steering mechanism 19 including a post 20 having a hand wheel 21 located adjacent to the seat 22 adapted to accommodate the child. The frame may also have headlights 23 and a suitable bumper 24.

The rear end of the frame is supported on wheels 25 mounted on an axle 26 which is suitably journalled in bearings 27 secured to the side bars 13 and 14:. The shaft 26 has fixed to it a clutch member 28, and slidably mounted upon the shaft 26 at one side of the clutch member 28 is a second clutch member 29 adapted to interlock with the first clutch member 28. The clutch member 29 has an external sprocket gear portion 30 over which passes a chain 21. The clutch member 29 is normally urged toward the other clutch member 28 by a spring 32 surrounding the shaft 26 and hearing at one end against the member 29 and at its other end against a stop 83 fixed on the shaft 26. The shaft 26 has also fixed to it a brake drum 34 against which is adapted to operate a. brake shoe 35.

V The sprocket 30 is driven by the chain 31 which extends forwardly and over a drive sprocket 36 mounted on a crank shaft 37 equipped at opposite ends with pedals. 38.

The sprocket 36 is fixed on the shaft 37 betweena pair of brace bars 39 extending between the cross braces 15 and 16 and supporting the pedals 38 in position. to receive the feet of the child when occupying the seat 22.

A combined axle releasing and brake bar 40 is pivoted at 41, intermediate its ends, to the cross brace 17 and has upon one end a forwardly extending fork 42 which engages about the reduced end of the clutch member 29 and against a flange 43 carried thereby. The fork 42 has its ends curved inwardly to rock and slide against the flange 43 when the bar 40 is rocked on its pivot. The other end of the bar 40 carries the brake shoe in position to engage the drum 34 after clutch member 29 has been moved away from the other clutch member 28. The bar 40 is also connected, by a rod 44 to a hand lever 45 which is pivoted at 46 upon the frame bar 14. The rod 44 is pivoted to the lower end of the lever 45 while the upper end of the latter carries a finger piece 47 which is 0011- nected to a locking dog 48 mounted on the lever 45 to traverse a sector 49 also mounted on the frame bar 14. The sector has a tooth 50 at its forward end to hold the lever 45 forward so that the clutch members 28 and 29 may interlock by the spring 32 and the axle 27 may be driven by operating the pedals 38. \Vlien it is desired to coast with the vehicle it'is only necessary to draw the lever 45 back until the dog 48 engages behind the tooth 51. This determines the position of the part shown in Figure 3 wherein the clutch members 28 and 29 are separated and the brake shoe 35 brought into proximity of the drum 34 but out of contact therewith;

[In this manner the rear axle 26 is free to turn independently of the pedal mechanism. If it is desired to check the speed of the vehicles or to apply the brake, the lever 45 is drawn further backward to engage behind one of the teeth 52 on the rear end of the sector 49. In applying the brake the bar 4.0 is swung on its pivot 41 and the brake shoe 35 is bound against the drum 84 with the required pressure.

In ,order'to protect the operator,the braces 39may carry a guard plate 53 which extends over the sprocket wheel 86 and chain 81.

Thus the toy vehicle may be propelled by the feet and the drive wheels may be quickly 7 and easily freed from the pedal mechanism and the brake may be subsequently applied; all by the operation of the lever 45'. As soon as the lever 45 is released by withdrawing the dog 48 from the teeth of the sector 49 the spring 32 is free to move the clutch member 28 into interlocking engagement with the clutch member 28 and :swing'the bar 40' into a reversed position.

I do not wish to be restricted to the size, form, and proportions of the various parts, and obviously changes could be made in the construction herein described without departing from the spirit of the invention. it being only necessary that such changes fall within the scope of the appended claims.

lVl at is claimed is 1. In a pedal wagon, pedal mechanism including a clutch member, a drive shaft, a second clutch member mounted on the drive shaft, means for normally interlocking said clutch members together, and manual means for separating the clutch members to free the drive shaft from the pedal me-hauism.

2. In a pedal wagon, a drive shaft having a clutch member thereon, pedal mechanism including a second clutch member normally urged to interlock with said iirst clutch member, a brake for said drive shaft, and manual means for primarily sepa ating said clutch members and subsequently operating the brake to free the shaft and check the turning of the same.

3. In a pedal wagon, a drive shaft, a clutch member fixed to the shaft, :1 second clutch member slidable on the shaft toward and from the first clutch member, pedal mechanism connected to said sccoml clutch member for operating the same, a bar pivoted adjacent to the shaft and having one arm connected to said second clutch member, a spring on the shaft engaging said. second clutch member for normally urging it against the first clutch member, a brake drum on the shaft, a brake shoe on said bar, and a hand lever connected to said bar for operating the same to first separate the clutch members and to subsequently apply the brake shoe to the drum.

4. In a pedal wagon, a rear axle having a brake drum thereon and a fixed clutrh member, a slidable internal clutch member on the axle having a flange at one side and an external sprocket wheel portion, a spring surrounding the shaft, a stop carried. by the shaft and engaging the spring to urge it against the slidable clutch member and interlock the same with said fixed clutch member, pedal mechanism including a chain engaging over said sprocket \vhccl portion, a manually controlled bar pivoted adjacent to the axle and having a fork on one end engaging the flange of the slidable clutch member to retract the same from the fixed clutch member, and a brake shoe mounted on the bar for engagement with said brake drum.

5. In a pedal wagon, pedal m chanism including a sprocket wheel having an internal clutch member, a shaft having a clutch member fixed thereto adapted to engage in the internal clutch member, a spring normally urging the clutch members into interlocking relation, a pivoted bar connected at one end to the internal clutch member, 2L brake shoe on the other end of the bar, a hand lever connected to the bar, a drum on the shaft adapted to be engaged by the brake shoe, and adjustable means connected to the lever for holding it in Various positions of adjustment to release the clutch members and apply the brake.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my 10 slgnature 1n presence of two wltnesses.

DON A. OVERMAN. W itnesses:

ARTHUR H. STURGES, HIRAM A. STURGES. 

